Blacktop Telecaster
Reviewed by:
Koldan, on november 09, 2012 13 of 15 people found this review helpful

Price paid: € 545

Purchased from: Music Store

Features: My guitar was made in 2010 on Mexico. It has 22 medium jumbo frets, rosewood neck, alder body and two humbuckers. I got mine in silver finish with black pickguard which I like. It has reversed control assembly unlike the others telecasters with one volume and one tone control and also a 3-way switching, it came with black skirted amp knobs on volume and tone which I changed for the traditional Telecaster knobs. // 10

Sound: I was looking for a Fender Telecaster long time ago, I tried many american and mexican telecasters but I never feel that it was the right one and when I tried out the blacktop I immediatly fell in love. It suits perfectly with my music style I usally play alternative rock like Muse, Radiohead, etc. But it can handles anything from metal to blues. I play it through a Laney LV 300 Head and it sounds amazing! // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was well made, the set-up was good and everything was in tune. I really got suprised by seeing a Mexican Telecaster working in my opinion even better than many american telecasters out there. There is no kind of mistakes everything is in order, very good quality considering the price. It can easily beat some pro-level guitar putting this guitar in that category. // 10

Reliability & Durability: It is a very solid guitar, I've played many gigs it has fell some times but it looks just like if it was new. The finish and hardware are good enough to handle a rock life. Particularly mine has suffered many damage and I still don't have any scratches or finish problems. // 10

Overall Impression: This is a very competent guitar that can serve any kind of player. It sounds magnificently for anything you want to play. It's an amazing HH Telecaster and considering its price I think this guitar it's like the Holy Grail of the guitars. I don't care if it is Mexican, American, Japanese, Chinese, I really love this guitar and I would buy another one if something happens to my telecaster. // 10

Blacktop Telecaster
Reviewed by:
junocaster90, on november 09, 2012 3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Price paid: $ 430

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: MIM Fender Blacktop Telecaster. I picked it up during the guitar center Fender anniversary sale. I picked the Black body with black pick guard. It has 2 over wound Alnico 5 humbuckers, HardTail bridge (which is string thru), rosewood fretboard on a solid maple neck. The body is Alder. The controls are reversed on this model. There is one volume and one tone knob as well as a three way selector switch. The knobs are supposed to be "Amp styled" which I liked. The neck has a gloss urethane finish as well as being a bolt on neck. I love it. // 9

Sound: I play modern metal. (TDWP, Beneath The Sky, I The Breather, etc.) And I'm powering it thru a Marshall HDFX 100. It's freaking beautiful. Very warm and still has that slight Tele twang that gives the high end a very nice crunch. I was thinking of maybe replacing the pickups but after playing it I don't want to lose the tone I have now with it. The neck pickup is VERY warm. Very nice for blues and softer things off the clean channel. I can honestly say this is my favorite guitar for sound wise. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: Out of the box it was set up pretty good! But I play in C. So I had some adjusting to do. It came with the allen wrenches to fix the truss rod and bridge action. I put em to use and found an action that worked for me. Very little fret buzz when set up to specs. The action is almost effortless to the touch. I adjusted the pickups slightly but I didn't go overboard or anything just because they were nicely placed as is. Very well made for the price of a Telecaster. It is MIM but it's VERY quality for what it is and it's worth. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I've messed around with it in jam sessions and I cringe everytime I bump it on a chair or amp or something just because I'm sort of a B**** when it comes to being protective over my guitar. But it doesn't do anything to it. No scrapes yet and no dents. I'm looking to break it in and can't wait till it gains the natural aged look. I always like the look of older Tele's. Unfortunately I'm thinking I have a long wait for that look only because the damn thing is so durable and the paint job is SUPER immaculate. It'll last quite a long time. I'd use it in a gig as my primary and get a second one as a back up. Def a stage worthy guitar for any genre really. // 9

Overall Impression: I honestly can't say many bad things about this guitar. I used to be so Anti-Fender but after a second glance I'm glad I dove into this instrument and picked it up. It's made me a more focused and dedicated player due to the excitement I get from wanting to play it. You have to play one to understand any of this. An internet review only goes so far. I love this guitar and I'll prob buy another one. But in a different color. It comes in Black, Grey, and White. I want the White one next. // 10

Blacktop Telecaster
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on november 09, 2012 1 of 7 people found this review helpful

Price paid: $ 425

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: $75.00 off regular cheap service boogie. Guitar Center owns all guitar transactions on par with Internet pricing. Saving all their money to invade America! (owned by China). All salesmen at Guitar Center should fight each other over a dog dirt (and believe me they would!). // 1

Sound: Hot Rod humbuckers and reverse control switch better than all Telecasters. I love the range it provides with the 3-way switch. From grungy to beautiful I love this bad a-s guitar! This guitar sounds great at all levels (some call the sound too muddy) but that's because their amps aren't set right. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: Perfect. Thrash it it, trash it, It's a Fender! It gets my Fender 100% OK! I loved the Black Out model, so I just threw on some chrome knobs and retained the great humbuckers! I can't imagine it being even better. It looks good, sounds good, and feels good. The extra cutaway like a Strat makes it more comfortable and lighter that a regular Tele. // 10

Reliability & Durability: Solid. Enough said. Good enough to knock out a Tiajuana donkey! And I've tried. All Fenders are guaranteed to knock out a Tiajuana donkey and your old lady. But your Mom? I doubt it! Because I've tried, and she ain't givin it up for anything less than $4.95. And I get a lot more mileage from my Tele. // 10

Overall Impression: This guitar rocks socks, and all that can't play suck! Sweet sound, better than a weak single coil queenie. Made in Mexico (like Santana) Oops my Bad! I should have spent an extra $1000.00 for absolutely Nothing! I live in San Diego, and rather pay 1/2 as much for a Mexican to make my guitar 70 miles away, than 250 miles away. I like guitars that sound good, play well, and look bada-s. I get it all with this one. And if someone finds a fault with this guitar, its just personal, not business! // 10

LivinJoke84 wrote:
MyS3lF :
stop with the 10/10 reviews already
What if the reviewer realy cant pick a fault with it? Reviews are very subjective and if this particular guitar is perfect for the reviewers needs then why shouldnt he rate it as a 10/10?

I think guitars should be reviewed as objectively as possible. I realize that it can't be done 100% as a guitar is always a subjective experience, but still, all 10's is HIGHLY unlikely - simply not finding anything to fault is no reason for that. A guitar with full grades needs not only to be flawless in every aspect, but also needs to have something truly outstanding to it.

The^Unforgiven wrote:
I think guitars should be reviewed as objectively as possible. I realize that it can't be done 100% as a guitar is always a subjective experience, but still, all 10's is HIGHLY unlikely - simply not finding anything to fault is no reason for that. A guitar with full grades needs not only to be flawless in every aspect, but also needs to have something truly outstanding to it.

I completely agree to this. I would rate it 10/10 if it was used by some proper good famous guitarist personally, though. They have to use the best of the best or they would sound... not good.

LivinJoke84 wrote:
MyS3lF :
stop with the 10/10 reviews already
What if the reviewer realy cant pick a fault with it? Reviews are very subjective and if this particular guitar is perfect for the reviewers needs then why shouldnt he rate it as a 10/10?

Yea, totally agree with you, didn't mean to criticize this guitar in particular, because i've read and seen about a dozen reviews already, and it does seem perfect, was just pointing out that there have been too many 10/10 reviews in UG without much content to prove a 10/10

I can't beleive there are people here arguing that any guitar can earn 10/10. There is no possible way any guitar can be perfect! What makes every guitar so interesting are the little discrepencies, every guitar is different, but no guitar is perfect. For example, the imperfections in the design of a standard tele stop it being perfect-and that's why I love it. 10/10 reviews defeat the object of reviews, since reviews require criticism to be of any use! /rant. On topic, looks cool. I've seen a few blacktops around and I really ought to try some out, though if I was in the market for a tele it would need single coils, so I'd probably be looking at the Classic Player Baja or the American Special.

jetfuel495 wrote:
MaxWood wrote:
This guitar sounds like shit, for the price you pay you might as well get a 72' Deluxe.I don't think you can get a 72 Deluxe for 500 USD. I have no idea how the reviewer paid over 500.

I've played it... it's pretty badass, not going to lie. I mean, 10/10 is pretty sketchy for everyone else, but honestly, you can't beat it if this is what you're aiming for. There are Ltd's, but I don't think anybody buying this would buy that or a Schecter (okay... maybe I would)... and the epi's in the comparable price range have really dry fretboards and poorly cut frets. Everything else has an annoying tremelo or is used. If this is what you want, then it's a perfect 10/10. It's not perfect perfect, but it's still a 10/10.

MaxWood wrote:
jetfuel495 wrote:
MaxWood wrote:
This guitar sounds like shit, for the price you pay you might as well get a 72' Deluxe.I don't think you can get a 72 Deluxe for 500 USD. I have no idea how the reviewer paid over 500.
500 is the not the same as $500 though.

That's my point. I have no idea how the reviewer paid 545 (almost $800) for a guitar that only costs $500 (about 350). Perhaps guitars are more expensive in Europe, but that would also make the prices of the '72 higher as well.
In the States, a '72 Deluxe Tele costs $700 (about 480). In Europe I assume it would be much more.
Compare that to the price Koldan paid for the Blacktop. It goes back to what I was saying. You can't get a '72 Deluxe for the same price as a Blacktop. Blacktops are much cheaper.

I gave it a ten because I tried many guitars before I bought this one, I really didn't care about the price I was looking for the perfect guitar to me and when I tried the blacktop telecaster it really sounds perfect to me. I don't agree with some people that say that expensive guitars are better or whatever, I played 1000 euros 2000 euros guitars and this one sounds exactly what I wanted. Btw some one said before that my english sucks and yeah that's true

Koldan wrote:
I gave it a ten because I tried many guitars before I bought this one, I really didn't care about the price I was looking for the perfect guitar to me and when I tried the blacktop telecaster it really sounds perfect to me. I don't agree with some people that say that expensive guitars are better or whatever, I played 1000 euros 2000 euros guitars and this one sounds exactly what I wanted. Btw some one said before that my english sucks and yeah that's true

jetfuel495 wrote:
MaxWood wrote:
jetfuel495 wrote:
MaxWood wrote:
This guitar sounds like shit, for the price you pay you might as well get a 72' Deluxe.I don't think you can get a 72 Deluxe for 500 USD. I have no idea how the reviewer paid over 500.
500 is the not the same as $500 though.
That's my point. I have no idea how the reviewer paid 545 (almost $800) for a guitar that only costs $500 (about 350). Perhaps guitars are more expensive in Europe, but that would also make the prices of the '72 higher as well.
In the States, a '72 Deluxe Tele costs $700 (about 480). In Europe I assume it would be much more.
Compare that to the price Koldan paid for the Blacktop. It goes back to what I was saying. You can't get a '72 Deluxe for the same price as a Blacktop. Blacktops are much cheaper.

Yeah guitars are much much more expensive in Europe than over in the US. Not sure why, capitalism I suppose.

I almost bought this guitar, but then I got my les paul studio instead. The one I saw at guitar center was only 399 or 449 though, not sure. Not entirely sure if it was the same exact one either because as soon I saw the 10s I scrolled straight down to the comment box.
Probably the best looking telecaster in my opinion though, just a shame there isn't a real review for it.

adodin wrote:
Yeah guitars are much much more expensive in Europe than over in the US. Not sure why, capitalism I suppose
Try shipping costs =P.
Koldan wrote:
No problem I just started learning english one year ago
Your English is quite good for 1 year of learning it.

Koldan, even though your grammar isn't perfect, we can understand what you're saying. That's all that counts. I speak a second language, too (Japanese) and while I can make myself understood without too much of a problem I don't speak it perfectly. Your english will improve as you expose yourself more and more to it.
Cheers.

ProgFolk12 wrote:
I can't beleive there are people here arguing that any guitar can earn 10/10. There is no possible way any guitar can be perfect! What makes every guitar so interesting are the little discrepencies, every guitar is different, but no guitar is perfect. For example, the imperfections in the design of a standard tele stop it being perfect-and that's why I love it. 10/10 reviews defeat the object of reviews, since reviews require criticism to be of any use! /rant. On topic, looks cool. I've seen a few blacktops around and I really ought to try some out, though if I was in the market for a tele it would need single coils, so I'd probably be looking at the Classic Player Baja or the American Special.

you guys gotta review the BT jazzmaster now, i got one and i love it.
although, i may look into changing the saddle bridge. it looks very nice but, if hit with enough force, the strings can get knocked out, plus i think it's slightly too wide for the neck (the low E string used to slip over the neck, although i think i fixed this)

^ those are the only faults i've found with it.
however, there is some earthing problems. although it doesn't happen all the time, the guitar becomes 'earthed' and touching it (often the metal of the pick-up selector) causes a strong 'humming' sound.
i still love it though XD

blake1221 wrote:
I saw this review and all I wanted to do was inb4 Jay.

*pelvic thrust*
I watched some demos of this guitar on Youtube, and they re-opened me to the possibility of getting a blacktop. My main focus is still the FSR Tele, but the Blacktop is a good second or third choice.

syracon30 wrote:
The^Unforgiven wrote:
I think guitars should be reviewed as objectively as possible. I realize that it can't be done 100% as a guitar is always a subjective experience, but still, all 10's is HIGHLY unlikely - simply not finding anything to fault is no reason for that. A guitar with full grades needs not only to be flawless in every aspect, but also needs to have something truly outstanding to it.
I completely agree to this. I would rate it 10/10 if it was used by some proper good famous guitarist personally, though. They have to use the best of the best or they would sound... not good.

I would rather play a guitar than none of celebrities play because companies would instantly mark it as a signature model and put +2000$ price just because some guy who plays chords in a popular rock band played this guitar one time on a concert

jetfuel495 wrote:
MaxWood wrote:
jetfuel495 wrote:
MaxWood wrote:
This guitar sounds like shit, for the price you pay you might as well get a 72' Deluxe.I don't think you can get a 72 Deluxe for 500 USD. I have no idea how the reviewer paid over 500.
500 is the not the same as $500 though.
That's my point. I have no idea how the reviewer paid 545 (almost $800) for a guitar that only costs $500 (about 350). Perhaps guitars are more expensive in Europe, but that would also make the prices of the '72 higher as well.
In the States, a '72 Deluxe Tele costs $700 (about 480). In Europe I assume it would be much more.
Compare that to the price Koldan paid for the Blacktop. It goes back to what I was saying. You can't get a '72 Deluxe for the same price as a Blacktop. Blacktops are much cheaper.

Ah I follow now. I tried out a Blacktop in the US when I visited, was planning on buying it (because it's cheaper over there) before I heard how it sounded :/ I already had a 72' Deluxe and it just didn't sound anywhere near as good. I was gutted but it's the truth.

I've had a Blacktop Tele for almost a year. It's a pretty nice guitar but it's not a 10/10 in my opinion. My major issue with it is the pick ups. They just don't sound that great to me. It's a very well-made, great looking guitar though and it is probably very well suited to someone who uses a lot of distortion. I just find it's not versatile enough for me. I like my Squier Classic Vibe 50's Tele a lot more.

I've tried a few of these, couple issues.
Everyone I tried had noticeable flaws in the finish (runs in the paint, scratches).
Stock pickups are iffy.
Nice guitars though, good value (they run around $450 in Canada). Buy one and throw in better PUPs and you are in business.

just ordered one along with a gibson tony iommi signature pickup which i will put in the bridge. any thoughts on how it will sound? probably wouldn't have gone with the iommi, but it was ridiculously cheap ($70 used).

poop_dogg wrote:
just ordered one along with a gibson tony iommi signature pickup which i will put in the bridge. any thoughts on how it will sound? probably wouldn't have gone with the iommi, but it was ridiculously cheap ($70 used).

poop_dogg wrote:
just ordered one along with a gibson tony iommi signature pickup which i will put in the bridge. any thoughts on how it will sound? probably wouldn't have gone with the iommi, but it was ridiculously cheap ($70 used).

Hi, I am looking for a tele, cant make up my mind which one...either the MIM Blacktop, Nashville, Standard or the Fender (not Squier) MIC Modern Player.
I dont have an opinion yet about the Blacktop Tele except this review and some others, but I know the pickups, the same as in my Blacktop Strat. They are not weak, I wont go into details of my strat not to bore you guys, but these humbuckers have punch, for a Fender type of guitar, more than the single-coils obviously, but then the sound is thicker as well, and so if you expect to hear a classic tele, you play country or such, you will find a difference, you may not like it. But if you play it overdriven they sound good. Again, Id need to hear how they sound on a Telecaster.
I recommend to hear the Youtube demo by Damon Chivers at Nevada UK to have an idea. Yes, in Europe they are more expensive, as in other regions, I live in Argentina, I bought the Blacktop Tele last year for $449 in the U.S., here its twice the price. These Blacktops are well built, have good finishing details, they keep in tune.

As a follow-up to my post on this guitar, I lowered the pickup height on both pickups and I think the sound is much improved. Before you go and replace pickups on this or any other guitar, I highly recommend changing the pickup height.

I have had mine of a little over a year, way past what I'd consider a break in period, and other than it's incredible appearance, I have sadly come to the conclusion that it's a dog, or at best an expensive platform guitar (body, really) of which will require many mods to bring it up to where it would should to be.
I concur with many other comments regarding the PU's: they're lifeless, muddy. Not as noticeable when fully cranked up, but very evident when playing at lower, non-overdrive volume.
The bridge is garbage and needed to be swapped out with a Hipshot just to keep it in tune.
The neck a horror: Taking into account that taste in necks are completely subjective, and the radius on this is not to my liking, it seems that no amount of setup work has been able to resolve the sponginess of the middle neck areas on the D & G strings between frets 7 and 12. (seem to be typical of many MIM necks).
So if you replace the neck, the bridge, and the pickups, we're talking a net add of about 600-700 bucks.
Lesson learned.

I just got paid $6784 working off my laptop this month. And if you think that's cool, my divorced friend has twin toddlers and made over $9k her first month. It feels so good making so much money when other people have to work for so much less. This is what I do, Red97dotcom

I own this guitar in black with the rosewood fretboard. I would rate this guitar a 6. I could go on and on about all the great things about this guitar I like as everyone else has done before me, or I can just list all the things I dont like. I would like to add that I am a huge fan of Fender but I am honestly giving this a shot.
The Body- Feels like 4x4 up against you and edges are NOT comfortable compared to a Strat. There is a small smoothed spot at the top but for all the comfort it affords it may as well be made of concrete. I give the Body a 6 because at least its Alder
The Finish- Urethane may as well be Kevlar coz this guitar is bulletproof! 10+
The Neck- compared to my American Strat the back of the neck feels like a baseball bat cut lengthwise and some rosewood frets added to the front. The fret wires are the usual nickel and the fretboard is comfortable to play. The neck could be flatter at the back so I would give it a 6 as well. Feels more like a Les Paul than a Fender.
The Sound- These pickups are HOT! They sustain well and are perfectly suited for metal or heavy rock n roll. They remind me of the buckers that they put in the made in china Jackson JS Series, you can hear every movement your hand makes on the strings and they have a kind of hollow echo. For pickups that are most likely made in the China Squier factory, I'll give em a 6 as well.
Hardware- I realize this guitar is,made in Mexico and doesn't cost a thousand dollars so I will go easy on the hardware. However the pots are the made in china junk that has that draggy feel compared to any American Fender and they are nowhere near smooth. My volume pot came loose after playing for two weeks and I had to tighten it up. The input Jack feels cheap and the 3-way switch feels even cheaper. I am terrified I am going to break the 3 way every time I play it. I will give this section a score of 4.
The Cost- I got mine for around $420.00 and when I think about how much more it would take to satisfy me monetarily by adding CTS pots, Orange Drop caps, a brass bridge, decent tuners, new pickups ( Duncan JB 59s for rock or EMG 81 and 85s for metal) and for Gods sake a quality 3-way switch and input jack, I am left wondering if I would have been better off ordering a body and neck from Stewmac and building it myself.
In Summary- For the price and the Novice this guitar is great. I do enjoy the sound through my Fender Mustang and my buddies Marshall. Anytime Im playing heavy crunchy stuff you betcha I'll be playing this Blacktop Tele until the day I become a 7 or 8 string Swedish Metal guy!!! Overall for value Im giving it a 6. Maybe a 6+

Well, by now you probably have realized that a standard bridge humbucker doesn't work well with Fender's wider string spacing. You need to use an F-spaced humbucker, like Duncans 'Trembucker' pickups for the strings to line up properly over the pole pieces, or use a rail-type pickup.

Why do you people care about someone else's opinion or rating? If for the reviewer the guitar is a 10, then it's a 10 for him or her. If for you it's NOT a 10, then stop whining like a little girl (or boy). I've played and recorded with the guitar. Overall, I'd rated it an 8 out of 10. Very good guitar, more suitable for hard stuff, since the pickups are VERY hot, too hot for my taste, but in a metal or hard rock environment, it shines brightly